FdSc Computer Games Design and Development · SGSCFoundation degree · Duration varies
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South Gloucestershire and Stroud College · Undergraduate

FdSc Computer Games Design and Development Foundation degree at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College

FdSc Computer Games Design and Development at SGSC. You'll work on real projects alongside core coursework, gaining both the conceptual foundation and practical toolkit needed in the industry.

FdSc
Award
Years
Part-time
Study mode
University Centre WISE Campus
Location

About this course

FdSc Computer Games Design and Development | University Centre SGS Please be advised that SGS College will be closed from Friday 19 December, until Tuesday 6 January 2026. From the provider’s course page.

FdSc Computer Games Design and Development is a Foundation degree (FdSc) at SGSC, based in University Centre WISE Campus. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.

For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Art & Design, see the sections below.

Curriculum & modules

Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.

Level 4 4 modules
  • Creative Design, Development and Production Techniques for Video GamesCore
    Module details

    This module aims to introduce you to the theory and practical aspects of design, development, and production of video games, including but not limited to physical prototyping, digital prototyping and the initial stages of the production pipeline. You will enhance your knowledge and understanding of video games and genres as well as development and production methodologies. You will also have the opportunity to explore a range of creative approaches and evolve technical skills using industry stan

    Assessment: Assignment: 30% (1,500 words or equivalent) Practical Assessment: 70% (3,000 words or equivalent)

  • Introduction to 3D Modelling and Game GraphicsCore
    Module details

    This module will introduce you to the industry tools and techniques that are involved in 3D Modelling and Texturing for video games. You will focus on asset modelling and texturing for game content in order to create modular components to build game environments.

    Assessment: Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent) Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent)

  • Fundamentals of Game EnginesCore
    Module details

    In this module you will be developing and producing a range of functioning game mechanic prototypes, that enable gamers' interaction and experience. Using an industry standard game engine, you will have an opportunity to explore and interact with the software. develop technical skills, and evolve your knowledge and understanding of creative thinking, central to the technical production of video game content.

    Assessment: Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent) Portfolio: 50% (2250 words or equivalent)

  • Fundamentals of Games ProgrammingCore
    Module details

    In this module you will be developing and producing a range of functioning game mechanics, utilising a programming language, towards a prototype project that enable users' interaction and experience. Using an integrated development environment and within an industry standard game engine, you will be introduced to the fundamentals and principles of a programming language, allowing the opportunity to explore and interact with the software's, develop further technical skills and enhance your knowle

    Assessment: 70% Portfolio 3150 words (or equivalent) 30% Assignment 1350 words (or equivalent)

Level 5 5 modules
  • Game ProductionCore
    Module details

    This module will simulate a small 'Games Studio' environment where you will work in a team comprised of students from multiple discipline pathways. Building on both interpersonal and technical skills, you will negotiate roles and create a production plan to develop an artefact, which will then form the basis for critical reflection. You will work in your teams under the supervision of staff, to create a vertical slice of a game experience product to include mechanic behaviour, artistic represent

    Assessment: 30% Presentation 2400 words (or equivalent) 70% Portfolio 3600 words (or equivalent)

  • User Interface & Extended Games ProgrammingCore
    Module details

    In this module you will be developing knowledge around interactive user interfaces (UIs) and extending upon programming languages applications, all of which enable gamers' interaction and experience. Using an industry standard game engine and within an integrated development environment, you will have an opportunity to practically develop both an interactive user interface (UI) and a programmed game experience, both of which will be referenced to an existing video game product. This will allow y

    Assessment: 50% Portfolio 3000 words (or equivalent) 50% Portfolio 3000 words (or equivalent)

  • Sector-based Work PlacementCore
    Module details

    This module aims to prepare you for the industry through practical experience in a sector relevant placement, comprising 20 hours. There will be a clear focus on industry expectations, personal reflection and wider employability skills, ensuring you are prepared to enter the job market and successfully progress with your career.

    Assessment: Portfolio: 100% (3000 words or equivalent)

  • Extended Game EnginesCore
    Module details

    In this module you will be developing complex scripting skills through practical exploration and apply attention to product detail through design and iteration. Using an industry standard game engine, you will have an opportunity to produce and develop your own designed video game experience, from initial concept to polished product; further develop your technical skills, and enhance your knowledge and understanding of creative thinking, towards the whole production and implementation of video g

    Assessment: Portfolio: 70% (4500 words or equivalent) Assignment: 30% (1500 words or equivalent)

  • Emergent TechnologyCore
    Module details

    The module aims to develop your research abilities and investigative skills in the context of emergent technologies and industry trends. Exploring the production pipeline and production processes you will have an opportunity to explore various innovations and trends in the sector providing you with a platform to make informed discoveries which can then be experimented within. This experience will be reflective of the industry structure and expectations in both content and practical application.

    Assessment: Portfolio: 100% (3,000 words or equivalent)

Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.

Course in depth

What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.

What you'll study

You'll study the creative and technical foundations of games design and development. A course like this typically moves from visual studies, design principles and materials across your first year, then progresses to sustained studio practice and digital media in the second year. You'll usually explore live briefs and real-world projects alongside your own work. In your final year, you'll focus on a specialist pathway, such as graphic design, illustration, UX & digital, fine art, or fashion & textiles, before developing a self-directed major project for your degree show. Throughout, you'll build your visual language, learn contemporary tools and processes, and develop a portfolio that positions your work for industry or independent practice.

Who it's for

You're someone drawn to gaming, whether you love the visual storytelling, the systems design, or the challenge of making interactive experiences work. You'll thrive if you're naturally curious about how games are made, comfortable learning industry-standard tools, and keen to bridge creative vision with technical execution. Expect to balance independent problem-solving with collaborative teamwork, and to develop a portfolio you're genuinely proud of alongside your formal qualification.

Careers & job market

Across Art & Design courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months of graduating. Of those in employment, 55% are in highly skilled roles. National graduate earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months after graduation) typically in the range £22,000–£27,000, rising to £20,825–£29,400 after five years. Your actual outcome will depend on your specialisation, the roles you pursue, and your location.

University & format

This FdSc is delivered part-time at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, a higher education college located at the University Centre WISE Campus. Instruction is in English. The course is recognised by a UK degree-awarding body, so your qualification is nationally recognised.

Applicant information

The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.

2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider

Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates

PlacementPublished placement option

Work placement. Availability, selection and pay can vary.

2026 entryLive availability check

Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.

Entry & how to get in

Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check SGSC's official course page for the current offer.

Entry & your chances

An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.

Offer-based entry

Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.

How to apply

Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.

Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
  1. 1
    Register on UCAS Hub

    Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.

  2. 2
    Write your personal statement

    A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.

  3. 3
    Submit by Apply directly to the provider

    Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.

  4. 4
    Reply to your offers

    When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.

  5. 5
    Results day & confirmation

    On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.

💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask SGSC whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.

Fees & funding

What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.

Tuition per year

Homeup to £9,790 / yr
Internationalset by the university

Standard capped home fee at English providers (2026/27); Scotland, Wales & NI differ.

Check fees at SGSC →

For students who normally live in England

illustrative Maintenance Loan per year
Check providertuition used per year, no published course home fee, total not estimated
total borrowing, course length not published

2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.

Starting on or after 1 January 2027?

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.

Paying for it

  • Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
  • Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
  • Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
  • Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.

England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.

Funding matched to this course

Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for

All SGSC funding →
No verified named award is shown for this provider yet.

That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.

We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.

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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check

Careers & earnings

What Art & Design graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.

  1. 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
  2. 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in art & design · 2–5 yrs
  3. 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
  4. 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs

How pay grows: this course vs Art & Design nationally

Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£22,000 – £27,000
After 3 years LEO
£17,000 – £24,000
After 5 years LEO
£20,825 – £29,400
national rangeaxis £16,000 – £30,500

National figures for Art & Design graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.

Work out your pay

Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.

Job market & outlook

How Art & Design graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.

87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Art & Design courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes
55%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled
85%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuation

How AI is changing the work

AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.

What AI takes off your plate

  • Routine information gathering
  • First-draft writing and summaries
  • Standard analysis and admin
  • Repetitive processing tasks

More human than ever

  • Judgement and original thinking
  • Working with and leading people
  • Owning and sense-checking AI output
  • Ethics and accountability

The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.

Roles & employers

Where Art & Design graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.

Where they work

  • Design studios & agencies
  • In-house brand teams
  • Games & media companies
  • Freelance & self-employed

Who studies here and in this subject?

Provider- and UK subject-level context.

Design, and creative and performing arts across the UK

Students178,755
Aged 25+15.7%

HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.

Local crime-data context

A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.

Around University Centre WISE Campus

533 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.

Violent Crime 168Shoplifting 75Anti Social Behaviour 62Public Order 50Criminal Damage Arson 40

Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.

Is Art & Design right for you?

Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.

International students

What applying to SGSC from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.

Tuition fees

International tuition is set per course by SGSC; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.

English language

Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.

Student visa

You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.

Scholarships & funding

Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check SGSC’s funding pages.

Living costs

Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.

Working while you study

A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.

Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with SGSC and gov.uk before you apply.

Common questions

Set by SGSC. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
See the career and earnings data for Art & Design below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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